We recognize and we revere heroes in every corner of life because they did not quit. They did not quit. They clawed their way back, and that is often what makes them heroes. They were heroes who were flawed along the journey, to be made a hero. Some of them were disqualified along the journey, like Samson. Yet, Samson appears in Hebrews 11: 32. Samson appears with the patriarchs of old as a man of great faith. He’s referred to in the ‘hall of faith’. How did he get himself in there? Because, he had this girlfriend named Delilah. She conned him. She took his anointing. She took his favor. She took his reputation. She took everything from him. And, he sold out everything. But, his comeback story, his restoration is remarkable. Now, there are some tough times that these heroes go through.

We are looking everywhere for a hero. We’re tearing down people that we thought were heroes because we found they had a flaw.  So, we tear the statue down. Then, we get a new hero and we put them up. And then we go, oops! Did you hear? Then the news comes out with a scandalous story… Take that one down again! We should have some kind of revolving tray, like a lazy Susan, that we put these heroes on. And, we just spin it till the next accusation causes them to be booted. Next! They’re going to take these people and when they get them up there, the story’s going to come out. How many affairs? How many things? We are looking for a hero.

Tough times are the womb of heroes, and failure is often the womb of success. How many times did Thomas Edison try to create that crazy thing called a light bulb? At times, anymore, I wish they didn’t exist because the LED has put them everywhere. In our clothes, in kid’s shoes. Lights are everywhere! Your refrigerator is lit up. Your microwave is lit up. Your washing machine has all kind of lights going on. You’ve got iPads to computers to televisions. Thank God, once in a while, it’s just dark.

Failure is in the womb of success. That’s why we love the stories that are often put into movies about those people who go against the odds. Some have found a way to come back from those events. We like those kind of movies. We like it when somebody was down and gets back up. I have boxing match YouTubes on my phone of Ali and those guys. I love watching them. I love the fact that these boxers come back. I love Rocky movies. Eyes swollen, nose over here.

God likes it when the odds are against you! Because, when they’re against you, you’ll need God! But, when you have ten thousand that are ready to fight for you, it’s easy for you to say, “I can do this on my own.” Hebrews 11:32-33, “And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions…” Samson! How did that boy get in there?

There is more to this message! You can watch it on YouTube at RockCCBaltimore!